It’s an uphill struggle

Two weeks into training for the Ride London 2014 and it is going... Well... Slowly.

 

I started last week with great enthusiasm and eagerness to turn up the wick on my training schedule. But when I hopped onto my bike on Monday night to cycle home, I realised my back tyre was flat. Small setbacks like this shouldn't be able to scupper the training plans of a thirty something year old. However I didn't get back on the bike until Tuesday this week... Not good.

 

Between those two trips out on the bike I managed to squeeze in a FA Cup Final Win at Wembley and a victory parade in Highbury. A great alternative to notching up the miles in the saddle. 2 days boozing, singing football songs and eating junk food... My type of training.

 

Mike on the other hand has applied his normal high standards to his training plan, being consistent and committed like a metronome. He cycles in to work 3 times a week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Taking in fresh shirts, pants, socks etc on Mondays and taking the dirty laundry home on Fridays. Simple, effective and much better than my totally unorganised and random pattern.

So 78 days to go till the big day... It's not too long.

We are cycling to raise awareness and money for Thames Hospice. They are an excellent charity who provide a free service caring and comforting the elderly and those approaching their final days. To perform their important work they rely on charity donations so please support us in supporting them on by donating on our just giving page below.  

http://www.thameshospice.org.uk/

www.justgiving.com/mikepeteandtom

The beginning...

A few months ago I was out to dinner with my friend Mike and our respected other halves. While stuffing our faces with delicious, rich & fatty foods and having our fill with beers and wines of the world, Mike asked me if I wanted to take part in Ride London. There must have been something other than grape juice and malt/hop extract in the drinks, because I agreed… As it turns out, “Ride London” is not an open top bus tour of London; it is a 100 mile cycle race through London and Surrey. It is the same course they used for the Olympics in 2012, and those Olympians are supposed to be fairly fit.

There are two parts of the course that makes me feel scared just thinking about it; the first is Box Hill, which is supposed to be very hilly indeed and most of the hills go upwards... for ever! The second thing that makes me weak at the knee and sick in the stomach, are the 99 miles that come after the first.

Mike also asked his friend Tom to join us and between the three of us we had a collective 1 bicycle… And that bike only had one gear. Mike obviously chose the team on similar level of standard rather than racing pedigree.  

Mike, our friend Tom and I decided to take part in the Ride London 100 to raise awareness and money for a charity close to our hearts and minds, Thames Hospice. It is an excellent charity that works tirelessly to comfort and care for people approaching their final days.

Please take time to have a look at their good work here http://www.thameshospice.org.uk/

And please support us in supporting them by giving generously on our just giving page. www.justgiving.com/mikepeteandtom

I will be keeping a log of our cycling activity and preparation for the big day here and on twitter @pumpkiii …We really need to start doing that preparation thing soon I guess.

92 days to go!! Wish us luck & donate us money

 

Thanks

Pete, Mike & Tom